Missing girl found in Florida, registered sex offender in custody

Investigators with the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday evening that they had received verbal confirmation from the Hallandale Beach Police Department in Broward County, Fla. that Abigaile Lefevers had been located.

By Jannette Pippin, The Daily News of Jacksonville

Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 06:19 PM.

BEAUFORT – A 12-year-old Carteret County girl is safe and her alleged abductor in custody in Florida, bring the third day of the search for the two to a close with good news.

Investigators with the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday evening that they had received verbal confirmation from the Hallandale Beach Police Department in Broward County, Fla. that Abigaile Lefevers had been located.

A news release from the sheriff’s office said Abigaile was safe with police and that Timothy Howard Newman had been taken into custody without incident.

Carteret County authorities had an arrest warrant for Newman for child abduction.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday for information about the alleged abduction and search efforts had focused on the Southeast coast as information continued to show that Newman, 38, a registered sex offender, was likely traveling south with Abigaile.

The red Chevy Sebring convertible they were traveling in was spotted by officers in Florida, who spotted the car near a Denny’s restaurant on South Dixie Highway near Interstate 95.

An investigation into Abigaile’s disappearance began Monday after her father reported her missing.

BEAUFORT – A 12-year-old Carteret County girl is safe and her alleged abductor in custody in Florida, bring the third day of the search for the two to a close with good news.

Investigators with the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Wednesday evening that they had received verbal confirmation from the Hallandale Beach Police Department in Broward County, Fla. that Abigaile Lefevers had been located.

A news release from the sheriff’s office said Abigaile was safe with police and that Timothy Howard Newman had been taken into custody without incident.

Carteret County authorities had an arrest warrant for Newman for child abduction.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday for information about the alleged abduction and search efforts had focused on the Southeast coast as information continued to show that Newman, 38, a registered sex offender, was likely traveling south with Abigaile.

The red Chevy Sebring convertible they were traveling in was spotted by officers in Florida, who spotted the car near a Denny’s restaurant on South Dixie Highway near Interstate 95.

An investigation into Abigaile’s disappearance began Monday after her father reported her missing.

Robert Lefevers spent the day with her daughter at their home Sunday and he last saw her that night about 10 p.m. When he awoke the next morning at around 6:25 a.m. she was gone.

Newman, who was also lives in the Bogue community, was also gone from his residence and did not report for work.

Authorities said Newman had been in contact with Abigale several times prior to her disappearance.

As investigators followed leads from possible sightings of the two as they moved south, they also worked leads in Carteret County.

The investigation included a search of Newman’s home.

Capt. Jason Wank, chief detective for the sheriff’s confirmed the search Wednesday but did not say what items were seized.

Due to Newman being on probation, he is subject to warrantless searches and seizures. Consent to search the residence was also provided by the roommate for the roommate’s areas of the home, Wank said.

Newman, who was placed on the sex offender registry is 2005 for convictions in connection with two counts of engaging in a sex offense with a 14-year-old girl in 2003 in Stokes County, is also on probation for a 2009 offense related to a networking website violation, according to N.C. Department of Correction information.

Lefevers said Newman is an acquaintance he met 12 years ago but he did not know he had apparently been texting his daughter.

He said he has family in Carteret County and has been visiting the area for years. He said they moved to area five months ago for a “fresh start” after the death of Abigaile’s mother.